Belt-clam p



UNITED STATES:

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM 1). VANDEGAR, OFMERRILL, W scons n.

BELT-CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,150, dated March 27, 1888.

Application filed August 1, 1887. Serial No. 245.822. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM D. VANDE- GAR, of Merrill, in the county of Lincoln, and in the State of Wisconsin, have invented oer"- tain new and useful Improvements in Belt- Clamps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to belt-clamps; and it consists in certain peculiarities of construction and combination of parts, to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and subsequently claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan view illustrating the application of a beltclamp constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2, a section taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a detail end elevation of a clamp-section; Figs. 4, 5, and 6, sections, respectively, taken on 2 lines 4 4, 5 5, 6 6, Fig. ,1; and Fig. 7, a partial under side view of a clamp-section.

My belt-clamp is composed of two sections of any desirable length, and each section has two longitudinally-slotted jaws, one of which 2 has its upper face convex, the opposing face of the other jaw being concave, as best illustrated by Fig. 6.

In both clamp-sections the slot in the lower jaw, A, is laterally enlarged, asshown at a, to

0 receive the square-shouldered heads I) of bolts B, the latter being provided with set-nuts C, that serve to hold both jaws AA upon that portion of a belt, D, that may be inserted between them.

3 5 The jaw A of one clamp-section is provided with perforated ears 0 d, that serve as bearings for aspindle,E,the latter having a squared end, 0, to receive a crank or wrench. The opposite end of the spindle is provided with 0 longitudinal grooves f and is screw-threaded to receive a set-nut, F, and arranged on the latter end of said spindle between the ear 0 of the adjacent clamp-jaw, A, and the set-nut F is a disk, G, having its eye provided with lugs 5 9, that fit said grooves. The disk Ghas its inner face provided with a series of radial projections, h, designed to be brought by the set-nut F into engagement with corresponding depressions, 13, in the adjacent ear, 0, belonging to one of the clamp-jaws, A, this construction serving as a clutch to prevent rotation of the spindle. The clutch mechanism just described is the one preferred, but otherwell-known mechanical means may be employed for preventing the rotation of the spindle without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The jaw A of the other clamp-section is provided at each end with an eye, j, through which and around the outside of said jaw is passed a wire cable or other suitable flexible 6o connection, H, the ends of the latter being fast on the spindle E, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

In the operation of my device, if it is desired to bring the ends of a belt-together, they are inserted between thejaws A A of the clampsections and the set-nuts C screwed down, so that their opposing convex and concave faces come tight upon said belt, to prevent its slipping. The set-nut F is loosened, so that the 7 disk G may be brought away from the ear 0 of the adjacent clamp-jaw, A, and the spindle E is rotated to wind the cable or other flexible connection H, and thereby cause the clamp-sections to approach each other and carry therewith the ends of the belt.

When the device is to be used on a belt that has its ends joined, I loosen the set-nuts O enough to permit the shoulders 11 of the bolts B to drop. below the lower face of the jaws A. Then by turning these bolts a half-revolution they may be withdrawn to permit the jaws A to be removed. The jaws A are now placed under and the jaws A above the belt, the.

bolts B returned to their normal position, the set-nuts O tightened, and the spindle E rotated, 8 5 as above described, to tighten said belt.

By the use of a device such as I have described 'belts may be readily stretched and held in such a manneras to permit the taking out. or putting in of pieces, and for such other 0 repairs or alterations that may be necessary.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- I 1. In a belt-clamp, the combination of tw sections, each comprising two longitudinallyslotted jaws the opposing faces of which are respectively concave and convex, set-bolts for holding the jaws upon a belt, and a Windlass mechanism for drawing the clamp-sections toward each other, substantially as set. forth.

2. In a belt-clamp, the combination of two IOO sections, each comprising two longitudinally- .slotted jaws, the lower jaw in each section having its slot laterally enlarged, bolts passed through both jaws in each section and having square-shouldered heads that engage the enlarged portions of the slot in said lower jaw, set-nuts arranged on the bolts, and a Windlass mechanism for drawing the clamps toward each other, substantially as set forth. 7

3. In a belt-clamp, the combination of two sections, each comprising two longitudinallyslotted jaws, set-bolts for holding the jaws upon a belt, the lower jaw in one of the sections provided with cars, a spindle journaled in the ears, a wire cable or other flexible connectionunitin g the spindle and opposite clampsection, and a clutch for holding said spindle against reverse movement, substantially as set forth. p

4. In a belt-clamp, the combination of two sections, each comprising an upper and lower jaw, set-bolts for holding the jaws upon a belt, the lower jaw of one section provided with perforated ears, one of which has a series of radial depressions in its outer face, a spindle journaled in said ears and having one of its ends provided with longitudinal grooves, a disk arranged on said spindle'and havinglugs that fit the spindle-grooves, a series of radial projections to engage the depressions in said car, a set-nut arranged on said spindle to adjust the disk, and a wire cable or other flexible connection uniting the spindle and opposite clamp-section, substantially as set forth. In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand, at Merrill, in the county of Lincoln and State of Wisconsin, in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM D, VANDECAR.

Witnesses:

J OSEPH A. HINCH, ELISHA L. BUMP. 

